The star was the first celebrity announced to take part in this year’s series…
Katie Piper has revealed that ongoing health problems will make participating in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing tough for her.
The presenter suffered life-threatening injuries in an acid attack arranged by an ex-boyfriend in 2008 and as a result, struggles with her breathing, has restricted vision in her left eye, and scar tissue denies her the full movement of her head.
‘The respiratory problem makes training a bit harder. I tried to practise some steps and can’t really move my head back because of a band of scar tissue that starts at the top of my head,’ she told The Mirror.
‘Everyone will be like, “Why’s she pulling that funny face?” and I’ll be like, “No, that’s my face!”’
The 34-year-old added: ‘It will be hard with my eyesight. If you cover one eye and think you can’t see your peripheral that is harder with dancing, steps and anticipating your partner.’
But Katie is determined to put her all into the show, admitting that she will push herself harder.
‘I’ll just have to work really hard at the training,’ she added.
But despite her health problems, Katie may be more worried about her lack of rhythm as she prepares to enter the BBC One dancing competition.
‘I can’t even clap in time,’ she confessed.
‘I’m like an elephant with no rhythm. When I was practising I was stamping on feet and banging into people.’
Joining Katie in the new season of Strictly Come Dancing is comedian and actor Seann Walsh, presenter Kate Silverton, singer and presenter Ashley Roberts, investigative journalist and TV presenter Stacey Dooley, This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh, England cricketer Graeme Swann, radio DJ Vick Hope, vlogger Joe Sugg, actor Danny John-Jules and Steps star Faye Tozer.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One this autumn.
